FOOD MODEL TOY

Abstract

A food model toy imitating a shape of a food, the food model toy includes: a food body having a substantially box-like shape that is open downward, and including an engaging portion at an upper portion; a first layer having a layer shape, stacked on an upper side relative to the food body, and including an engaged portion configured to engage the engaging portion; and a second layer having a layer shape and stacked on an upper side relative to the first layer with a clearance provided between the first layer and the second layer. An engagement portion formed by the engaging portion and the engaged portion defines a substantially tubular shape with a through hole provided therein. A communication path is formed from an opened lower portion of the food body to an outside of the food model toy via the through hole and the clearance.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is based on and claims priority under 35 USC 119 from Japanese Patent Application No. 2023-187374 filed on Nov. 1, 2023, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a food model toy.

BACKGROUND ART

In the related art, food model toys that imitate foods such as confections have been provided. For example, JP2002-273071A discloses a cooking toy including a simulated cooking device that imitates an oven and a simulated food that imitates bread.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

However, the simulated food such as a food model toy disclosed in JP2002-273071A does not provide sufficient safety because it may be accidentally swallowed by a toddler or the like, and in such cases, there is a risk of it getting stuck in the throat or the like, potentially causing suffocation.

An object of the present disclosure is to provide a food model toy with enhanced safety.

A food model toy according to an aspect of the present disclosure is a food model toy imitating a shape of a food, the food model toy including: a food body having a substantially box-like shape that is open downward, and including an engaging portion at an upper portion; a first layer having a layer shape, stacked on an upper side relative to the food body, and including an engaged portion configured to engage the engaging portion; and a second layer having a layer shape and stacked on an upper side relative to the first layer with a clearance provided between the first layer and the second layer, in which an engagement portion formed by the engaging portion and the engaged portion defines a substantially tubular shape with a through hole provided therein, and a communication path is formed from a lower portion of the food body to an outside of the food model toy via the through hole and the clearance.

According to the present disclosure, it is possible to provide a food model toy with enhanced safety.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The present disclosure will be described in detail based on the following without being limited thereto, wherein:

FIG. 1 is an overall perspective view of a cake model toy according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, as viewed obliquely from above;

FIG. 2 is an overall perspective view of the cake model toy according to the embodiment of the present disclosure, as viewed obliquely from below;

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the cake model toy according to the embodiment of the present disclosure, as viewed obliquely from above;

FIGS. 4A and 4B show the cake model toy according to the embodiment of the present disclosure, in which FIG. 4A is a top view of a cream layer, and FIG. 4B is a bottom view of the cream layer;

FIGS. 5A and 5B show the cake model toy according to the embodiment of the present disclosure, in which FIG. 5A is a top view of a topping layer, and FIG. 5B is a bottom view of the topping layer;

FIG. 6 is a partially transparent top view of the cake model toy according to the embodiment of the present disclosure; and

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VII-VII in FIG. 6, showing the cake model toy according to the embodiment of the present disclosure.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

An embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. As shown in FIG. 1, in an embodiment of the present disclosure, a cake model toy imitating a whole cake (food model toy, food model toy imitating a confection) 1 is exemplified. The cake model toy 1 is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape with an upper side closed as a whole, and includes, in order from the lower side, a cake body (food body) 10, a cream layer (first layer) 20 having a layer shape, and a topping layer (second layer) 30 having a layer shape. The cream layer 20 is stacked on an upper side relative to the cake body 10, and the topping layer 30 is stacked on an upper side relative to the cream layer 20.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the cake body 10 is a shape body imitating a sponge cake and has a cylindrical shape with an upper side closed, except for an engaging hole portion 12 described below. The cream layer 20 is a shape body imitating a layer of whipped cream, has a substantially disc-like shape, and has an outer diameter sized to cover substantially an entire upper surface of the cake body 10. The topping layer 30 is a shape body imitating a collection of multiple strawberries and has a substantially disc-like shape with an outer diameter smaller than that of the cream layer 20. The cake model toy 1 of the present embodiment is a model toy that is used when playing a pretend bakery game with a doll or the like.

Below, the configuration of the cake model toy 1 will be described in detail. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, a central portion of an upper surface 10a of the cake body 10 is provided with an engaging hole portion (engaging portion) 12 having a shape of a hexagonal hole, each corner of which is rounded, penetrating vertically. In addition, on an inner side of a lower surface 10b of the cake body 10, an inner peripheral wall 14b that is substantially circular along an outer peripheral wall 14a of the cake body 10 and is slightly smaller than the outer peripheral wall 14a is provided in a concentric circle shape with the outer peripheral wall 14a. The engaging hole portion 12 is provided on an inner side of the inner peripheral wall 14b, whereby a flow channel is secured that extends from the upper side of the cake body 10, passes through the inner side of the inner peripheral wall 14b via the engaging hole portion 12, and reaches the lower side of the cake body 10.

As shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, the cream layer 20 has a cream layer outer wall 21 extending slightly downward from its peripheral edge portion and, as a whole, forms a substantially vertically inverted shallow dish shape. An inner side of the cream layer outer wall 21 is configured such that the upper surface 10a side of the cake body 10 fits therein. An upper surface 20a of the cream layer 20 is provided with a decorative portion (protruding portion) 22 formed by a plurality of whipped cream decorations connected along its peripheral edge portion. The decorative portion 22 is provided in a form of protruding from the upper surface of the cream layer 20. A part of the upper surface 20a of the cream layer 20, located on an inner side of the decorative portion, is provided with a hole portion 23 for plate having a substantially hexagonal shape and opening upward.

In addition, at a substantially central portion of the upper surface 20a of the cream layer 20, a recess portion 20a1 recessed downward and having a substantially circular shape in plan view is provided. On a peripheral edge portion of the recess portion 20a1, a plurality of recessed portions 24 opening upward are intermittently provided along the peripheral edge portion. The respective recessed portions 24 are the same in shape and size and are spaced at equal intervals.

A central portion of a lower surface 20b of the cream layer 20 is provided with an engaging cylinder portion (engaged portion) 26 extending downward in a short cylindrical shape. An outer diameter of the engaging cylinder portion 26 is substantially the same as an inner diameter of the engaging hole portion 12 of the cake body 10, and the engaging cylinder portion 26 engages vertically with the engaging hole portion 12. Thus, the cream layer 20 is locked to the cake body 10 in a form that the upper surface 10a side of the cake body 10 fits into the inner side of the cream layer outer wall 21. An interior of the engaging cylinder portion 26 is formed as a through hole 26a penetrating vertically. An opening end on an upper end side of the through hole 26a is located at a substantially central portion of the recess portion 20a1.

As shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, a part of the topping layer 30 is provided with a through hole 33 for plate, which is open in a substantially hexagonal shape and penetrates vertically. The through hole 33 for plate is provided at a position where it overlaps the hole portion 23 for plate in the vertical direction in a state in which the topping layer 30 is stacked on and attached to the cream layer 20. In the state in which the through hole 33 for plate overlaps the hole portion 23 for plate, a plate model (not shown) can be erected in the through hole 33 for plate and the hole portion 23 for plate, thereby making the cake model toy 1 resemble a whole cake even more closely.

As shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, an upper surface 30a of the topping layer 30 is formed in an uneven shape by applying a decoration imitating a collection of multiple strawberries. Note that a lower surface 30b of the topping layer 30 is formed as a flat surface. As shown in FIG. 6, an outer diameter of the topping layer 30 is slightly larger than an inner diameter of the recess portion 20a1 of the cream layer 20, and is also sized to enable the topping layer to fit into the inner side of the decorative portion 22.

In addition, on a peripheral edge portion of the lower surface 30b of the topping layer 30, a plurality of projections 34 protruding downward at substantially the same height are intermittently provided along the peripheral edge portion. Each projection 34 is provided at a position where it overlaps each recessed portion 24 of the cream layer 20 in the vertical direction in a state in which the topping layer 30 is stacked on and attached to the cream layer 20. A lower end portion (tip end portion) of each projection 34 is fitted in (contacts) each recessed portion 24 when the topping layer 30 is attached to the cream layer 20. Thus, the topping layer 30 is locked to the cream layer 20 with a slight gap between the lower surface 30b and the upper surface 20a of the cream layer 20 (see FIG. 7).

Next, a communication path provided in the cake model toy 1 will be described with reference to FIG. 7. As described above, the cake model toy 1 is formed by attaching and locking the cream layer 20 to the cake body 10, and then attaching and locking the topping layer 30 to the cream layer 20. In this state, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the opening end on the lower side of the through hole 26a is opened downward on the inner side of the inner peripheral wall 14b of the cake body 10, and the opening end on the upper side of the through hole 26a is opened to a space between the recess portion 20a1 of the cream layer 20 and the lower surface 30b of the topping layer 30.

In addition, as shown in an enlarged view P of FIG. 1 and FIG. 7, in this state, a slight gap is provided between the lower surface 30b of the topping layer 30 and the upper surface 20a of the cream layer 20, thereby providing a clearance G between the cream layer 20 and the topping layer 30. Specifically, the clearance G is provided between the decorative portion 22 of the cream layer 20 and the outer peripheral edge of the topping layer 30. Note that in FIG. 7, one location on the perimeter of the topping layer 30 is depicted as the clearance G, but the clearance G is formed over substantially the entire perimeter of the topping layer 30. The clearance G is provided in a form of communicating with a space between two adjacent projections 34. For this reason, a space between the recess portion 20a1 of the cream layer 20 and the lower surface 30b of the topping layer 30 (a space on the inner side of each projection 34) is opened to the outside of the cake model toy 1 through the clearance G.

As described above, by providing the through hole 26a and the clearance G, in the cake model toy 1, a communication path CP is formed from the lower side of the cake body 10 to the outside of the cake model toy 1 via the through hole 26a and the clearance G around the topping layer 30. For this reason, even if a toddler playing with the cake model toy 1, such as a pretend play, accidentally swallows the cake model toy 1 and it gets stuck in the throat or the like, the communication path CP ensures an air passage through the cake model toy 1 from top to bottom, preventing the risk of suffocation and enhancing the safety of the cake model toy 1.

Note that, as shown in FIG. 7, since the decorative portion 22 is provided in a form of protruding upward from the peripheral end portion of the upper surface 20a of the cream layer 20 relative to the lower surface 30b of the topping layer 30, the clearance G is provided on the inner side of the decorative portion 22, which makes it difficult to visually recognize the 30 clearance G from the outside of the cake model toy 1. For this reason, it is possible to make the cake model toy 1 resemble a whole cake even more closely, thereby enhancing the design aesthetics of the cake model toy 1.

According to the above-described embodiments of the present disclosure, a model toy and a cooking toy of the following aspects can be provided.

A model toy according to a first aspect of the present disclosure is a food model toy imitating a shape of a food, the food model toy including: a food body having a substantially box-like shape that is open downward, and including an engaging portion at an upper portion; a first layer having a layer shape, stacked on an upper side relative to the food body, and including an engaged portion configured to engage the engaging portion; and a second layer having a layer shape and stacked on an upper side relative to the first layer with a clearance provided between the first layer and the second layer, in which an engagement portion formed by the engaging portion and the engaged portion defines a substantially tubular shape with a through hole provided therein, and a communication path is formed from an opened lower portion of the food body to an outside of the food model toy via the through hole and the clearance.

With this configuration, since the communication path configured by the through hole and the clearance is formed in a form of penetrating the food model toy in the vertical direction in the state in which the food body, the first layer, and the second layer are attached to each other, even if a user accidentally swallows the food model toy and it gets stuck in the throat or the like, an air passage is secured through the communication path. For this reason, it is possible to implement a food model toy with enhanced safety.

In the model toy according to a second aspect, the second layer includes a plurality of projections protruding downward at substantially a same height and is stacked on an upper side relative to the first layer with the plurality of projections interposed therebetween, and the clearance is formed to communicate with a space between two adjacent projections among the plurality of projections.

With this configuration, since the space provided between the first and second layers becomes part of the communication passage by the projections, a specific configuration of the communication pass can be provided.

In the model toy according to a third aspect, the first layer has a plurality of recessed portions provided at portions where tip end portions of the plurality of projections are to contact, respectively.

With this configuration, a specific configuration by which the tip end portion of each projection contacts each recessed portion and, thus, the second layer is attached and locked to the first layer can be provided.

In the model toy according to a fourth aspect, the engaged portion is provided at a substantially central portion of the first layer in a plan view of the first layer, and the plurality of projections are provided on a peripheral edge portion of the second layer so as to surround the engaged portion in a plan view of the first layer and the second layer.

With this configuration, the communication path is provided to pass through the clearance provided near the peripheral edge portion of the second layer via the through hole provided at the substantially central portion of the first layer. For this reason, it is possible to provide a specific path for the communication path in the model toy.

In the model toy according to a fifth aspect, the second layer further includes a protruding portion provided at the peripheral edge portion and protruding upward relative to the clearance. With this configuration, the clearance is located on the inner side of the protruding portion, making it difficult to see the clearance from the outside of the model toy, thereby enhancing the design aesthetics of the model toy.

In the model toy according to a sixth aspect, the food body has a substantially cylindrical shape with an upper opening closed except for the through hole, the first layer has a substantially disc-like shape with an outer diameter to cover substantially an entire upper surface of the food body, and the second layer has a substantially disc-like shape with an outer diameter smaller than that of the first layer, and the food model toy imitates a confection.

With this configuration, for example, by forming the food body into a shape imitating a sponge cake of a whole cake, forming the first layer into a shape imitating a cream layer of the whole cake, and forming the second layer into a shape imitating a topping layer of the whole cake, it is possible to implement a model toy imitating the whole cake, with enhanced safety provided by the communication path.

Although the embodiments of the present disclosure have been described, the present disclosure is not limited to the above-described embodiments and can be variously changed without departing from the scope. For example, in the above embodiment, a cake model toy imitating a cake has been exemplified as a food model toy, but no such limitation is intended, and other model toys imitating food may also be possible.

Claims

1. A food model toy imitating a shape of a food, the food model toy comprising: a food body having a substantially box-like shape that is open downward, and comprising an engaging portion at an upper portion;a first layer having a layer shape, stacked on an upper side relative to the food body, and comprising an engaged portion configured to engage the engaging portion; anda second layer having a layer shape and stacked on an upper side relative to the first layer with a clearance provided between the first layer and the second layer,wherein an engagement portion formed by the engaging portion and the engaged portion defines a substantially tubular shape with a through hole provided therein, andwherein a communication path is formed from an opened lower portion of the food body to an outside of the food model toy via the through hole and the clearance.

2. The fold model toy according to claim 1, wherein the second layer comprises a plurality of projections protruding downward at substantially a same height and is stacked on the first layer with the plurality of projections interposed therebetween, and wherein the clearance is formed to communicate with a space between two adjacent projections among the plurality of projections.

3. The food model toy according to claim 2, wherein the first layer has a plurality of recessed portions provided at portions where tip end portions of the plurality of projections are to contact, respectively.

4. The food model toy according to claim 2, wherein the engaged portion is provided at a substantially central portion of the first layer in a plan view of the first layer, andwherein the plurality of projections are provided on a peripheral edge portion of the second layer so as to surround the engaged portion in a plan view of the first layer and the second layer.

5. The food model toy according to claim 4, wherein the second layer further comprises a protruding portion provided at the the peripheral edge portion and protruding upward relative to the clearance.

6. The food model toy according to claim 1, wherein the food body has a substantially cylindrical shape with an upper opening closed except for the through hole,wherein the first layer has a substantially disc-like shape with an outer diameter to cover substantially an entire upper surface of the food body,wherein the second layer has a substantially disc-like shape with an outer diameter smaller than that of the first layer, andwherein the food model toy imitates a confection.